When you belong to the 6th generation of a family who made a living in metal working, there is no doubt that you take pride in the quality of craftsmanship of a gone by era. As Jeremy Cupp from LC Fabrications says “I only care about the feeling of a job well done, building only what will last because everything else will just fall apart very fast, especially on a motorcycle. Something you make with you hands is never good enough until you get a huge sense of pride.” That Jeremy applies his metal skills to motorcycles is a joy for all those we got a chance to admire his former creations named “Seven”, “Old Black”, “Outcast”, “Panster” and many others. Jeremy always spends many months just thinking about a new project before getting started. Never looking in priority for fame and money, he will only shape steel and aluminum into motorcycles when he feels like doing it…
The story of this “LC Speedster” is atypical of the way Jeremy Cupp usually works. It’s due to the fact that, like many builders, he tried to please a magazine and show organizer who wanted to enhance the quality of his event by getting his presence with a new custom creation. As he explained to me “: This project started at the 2015 SmokeOut event in Rockingham NC. I had been asked to bring down my previous bike “Seven” to compete in the pro-category of The Horse Chopper Show. I had drifted away from that event for a few years, and wanted to get down to see some old friends. So I agreed… By the end of the weekend “Seven” had taken top hon0rs at the show, the big prize being an invite into the coveted Pro Chop-Off Competition. I was excited to be included into the ranks of such great builders (and human beings) as Bill Dodge of Blings Cycles and Jeff Cochran a.k.a. the Speed King. The event is basically a competition to build a bike in a given time frame, all progress being documented in monthly articles in the magazine, leading up to a 150-mile ride from Murrels Inlet in South Carolina to the Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina.”
“Several months had past and I hadn’t yet heard of any rules or guidelines, and really wasn’t sure if I was supposed to have an official start date. So I kept plugging away at manufacturing parts and doing small one-offs for customers. After finally receiving the anxiously awaited email, something hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to start on a bike…right now.” Since you will never see Jeremy Cupp busting out a dozen bikes a year for clients, something incompatible with his metal art philosophy requiring lots of time, he realized what he had inadvertently gotten himself into. No idea, no inspiration, and the shortest time frame he had ever had to build a bike. Huge anxiety from day one…
“Chop-off”. Obviously Jeremy thought about using a Knucklehead or Shovelhead in a rigid frame. But for those who don’t know, he is foremost a Sportster guy and at the time of the build, he was flat broke. .. So he purchased a cheap 2006 Sporty 883 from a salvage company and got started on his first ever swingarm frame! He told me about the stress of having no real vision or destination for this build, only knowing that he had to keep going. “I had pulled some small cues from vintage bikes that inspire me, such as the looped featherbed style frame, and the “Vincent-esque” swingarm and rear shock mount. For time sake I decided to modify a set of Shovel era fat-bob tanks instead of building my own. The wheels are a couple of oem Harley eBay purchases that I had for years (a 19” Rocker and a 19” V-Rod models), and they seemed to be at home during mock-up. Again, for reason of time I decided to modify a hydraulic front end versus something with more flair. So I bought a set of 49mm Dyna legs, shortened them 3 ½ inches and shaved the lowers and fitted them with a pair of my own one-off triple-trees.”
Fortunately, being in a Pro-Chop-Off competition has its perks and Jeremy was able to talk S&S Cycle out of a 1250 kit, complete with cams, pushrods, and a fresh super E Carb. Tyler at Lowbrow gave him a set of Heidenau tires that really fit the subtle vintage theme of what he had so far. And Cone Engineering sent him a box of the most beautiful stainless steel tubing he has ever had the honor of using.
Jeremy continues: “Not knowing what to do about a rear fender, and completely lost with no direction (yes, still), I dummied up a Café style flat seat and tail hump. I stared at that thing for three days, and it suddenly started to come to me. My vision had arrived. To build a bike that could maybe, just possibly get everyone somewhat interested, maybe pleasing folks from both sides of the old and new school styles because I respect both. So, I finished up that Café Racer seat idea and used the hump as the oil tank. I sewed up some maroon leather and gave the bike a classic Harley Davidson type paint scheme while Clay at Atom Bomb powder coated the frame and small parts for me. The bike was back together far enough ahead of time that I was able to give the fresh top end a proper break-in before riding down to South Carolina. The ride went smooth and I met some great new friends, from all walks of life at another motorcycle event on another warm summer weekend.” So, I asked Jeremy what he did learn from this experience. Answer: “I will not work again in a rush without long thought pre-established direction. Well, maybe! Ha, ha. ha.” LC Fabrications (photography @ Adam Scott)
Specifications:
Owner: Jeremy Cupp / LC Fabrications
Frame: Looped swingarm by LC Fabrications
Engine: 2006 XL883
Cylinders: 1250cc S&S
Heads: S&S Super Stock
Cams: S&S
Carburetor: S&S super E
Ignition: Thunderheart
Exhaust: Stainless 2 into 1 by LC Fbarications
Front Wheel: Harley Davidson Rocker 19
Rear Wheel: Harley Davidson VROD 19
Tires: Heidenau
Brakes: 4 pot Tokico
Front End: Shaved and Lowered 49mm Showa
Gas Tank: modified fatbob
Oil Tank: one off by LC Fabrications
Controls: LC Fabrications
Upholstery: LC Fabrications
Paint: LC Fabrications
Polishing: Lindsay Cupp
Fabrication and machine: LC Fabrications
Powder Coating: Atom Bomb Coatings, Richmond VA
Special thanks: S&S cycle, Lowbrow Customs, Cone Engineering, Clay Rathburn, Monster Craftsman.
You know what? isn’t it refreshing to see a bike that looks as good as it will undoubtedly run? Well done JAYCEE; very well done! (the delight is in the detailed functionality… No Shit as Arlen used to say)
Outstanding.
Hey JC, Very nice, you did it again ! We met at Carlisle, where the Panster won Best of Show !
You ARE the MAN ! Best of Luck, BJ
Kick ass Jeremy, one of my favorite builders and innovators.
Jeremy is an incredible fabricator and builder and an even better person, another fine motorcycle!!
The feature from Sir Huze that will make J. Cupp a household name in the biz. Great sled.
Really nice from every angle.
Love it!
flawless execution, great build. way to step away from the masses with “out of the box” designs. best part, on a Sportster platform too.
I agree, this bike can please not only the old school guys but even some HOG crowds.
Cupp is a very good builder with old craftsmanship skills. Perfect for this decade.
There is nothing really new or never seen on a bike, but amazingly the final result is excellent and very appealing.
One of the rare “customs” I would own and ride.
5 Stars out of 5.
J. Cupp was well known in the “underground” of custom builders. This bike will be well received both by the youngsters and the grey beards, helping Cupp getting a much larger notoriety thanks to this website…and too much business? (for a guy who wants to take his time, one bike at a time)
Looks like an old Harley, should ride almost like a new one. A desirable machine.
The tail section seems to be too much forward. Except this, nice.
Perfection
First of all, I really like this build.
However, I think Big Tom nailed it – whether aesthetically or functionally, that seat cowl is too far forward. A lot of older Honda CBs are being built this way, with a frame loop welded to the rear of the frame. It APPEARS that there are only a few inches of travel before the rear tire hits that frame loop.
I could be wrong, but that’s what it looks like.
The craftsmanship on this bike is superb and I’ve loved everything from LC so far. But the lines of the tank seem off to me. It just sits too low at the front compared to the headstock. I can see the line he was going for, but the tanks look like they’re drooping and falling off at the front to my eyesurprise and it makes the headstock look goofy.
Outstanding !!!